The preseason AP Top 25 was officially released Monday at noon ET.
Preseason polls haven’t been kind to the Mid-American Conference over the years, as no team from the league has been situated in the initial AP Top 25 since Marshall checked in at No. 19 in 2022. Of the 12 current MAC members, only Miami (OH) has attained ranked status prior to Week 1, positioned at No. 20 in the 1976 preseason AP Poll.
This years, the typical trend sustained as zero MAC teams cracked the Top 25. But unlike most seasons in recent history, there was at least some recognition for the conference.